Kick Off: Date with destiny awaits Seattle and DC

The biggest weekend of the season so far is about to kick off, with two monumental comebacks needed by D.C. and Seattle on Sunday, if they’re going to make MLS Cup 2012.

Seattle have the biggest task on their hands as they try to overturn a three-goal deficit at home against LA (9 pm ET, ESPN, live chat on MLSsoccer.com). Robbie Keane, believes LA have to switch off from the Sounders' partisan crowd but admits the occasion will be something to savor: “It gets no bigger than this. It should be something we should be looking forward to even though we are the away team.”

And in the nation's capital, meanwhille, D.C. United face a mammoth task if they’re going to reach their first MLS Cup since 2004. Only two teams in playoff history have overturned two-goal deficits after first leg defeats (San Jose in ’03 and Kansas City in ’04). United are hoping to make that three when they face Houston on Sunday (4 pm ET, NBC Sports, live chat on MLSsoccer.com).

With playoff news dominating the press, you may have missed the list of MLS 2012 award finalists we released yesterday. Don’t fret, here they are. The awards include MVP, Rookie of the Year, Coach of the Year and plenty more. See if your favorites made the list.

And speaking of coaches, the only American coach plying his trade in Europe, Greg Berhalter, reflects on a successful first season in charge of Hammarby IF in Sweden. Read more here.

Staying over in Europe, Jozy Altidore has been lighting up the Dutch Eredivisie this season for AZ Alkmaar. Some European giants are apparently circling around the New Jersey native in search of his signature. See who, here.

We know the Pacific Northwest are crazy about their soccer. But buying shares in a club in financial peril 300 miles north of Madrid, really? Find out why a Portland fan who has never been to Spain, now has a tattoo of Real Oviedo’s badge on their arm. The New York Times takes up this intriguing story.

And finally, ever thought of putting two ‘keepers in at once? Sure, we all have. But in a lower league game in Argentina, it actually happened. Watch this crazy video, as San Martín's sub ‘keeper warming up behind the goal made a superb stop … after his own goalkeeper had already been lobbed by Belle Ville’s striker. Worse still, Belle Ville then failed to score from the subsequent indirect free kick. Classic.